Americans Have Less Pride in America Than World Cup Tourists

Americans didn’t know what to expect when we agreed to host the 2026 World Cup. The last time the international men’s soccer tournament took place on American soil was in 1994 and more has changed in the last 32 years than we realized.

The most notable difference is that foreign visitors now seem to appreciate America more than Americans do. And they’re giving us a lesson on how to be patriotic.

Since the World Cup opened on June 11, social media has been a whirlwind of posts and reaction videos from international tourists reveling in American culture.

Ranch dressing has become such a popular souvenir that TSA had to issue a notice reminding people to put bottles of the “Great American Condiment” into their checked luggage. And one German soccer fan who goes by the name “Freddy” has been documenting his American experiences, from visiting Buc-ee’s to FaceTiming astronauts at the International Space Station.

But tourists are not just noticing our giant gas stations and excellent condiments. They’re admiring American patriotism.

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A British couple is laughing at how they’ve seen American flags that are “bigger than houses.” The German content creator Fiago posted after seeing a large American flag in Macy’s, “I respect how proud Americans are of their country, unimaginable back home in Germany.”

We’ve been told that we shouldn’t be proud of America, and that we should be ashamed for all the mistakes we’ve made. That narrative has worked. 

Although Europeans are commenting on how proud Americans are of their country, polls show that American pride has dropped 31 points in recent years.

Only 51% of Americans in 2026 say they are “extremely proud” to be an American, down from 82% of Americans who said the same in 2013, according to a poll from the Public Religion Research Institute.

What Americans don’t realize is that our culture and way of life is only possible in the United States.

Not proud of America? That means not being proud of the National Park system, the invention of the light bulb, and the first flight. Add chocolate chip cookies, jazz, barbecue, and air conditioning to that list.

We thought people in other countries had it as good as we do. Tourists are telling us that they don’t, and that we should be proud of our country. Even when American pride is hitting a record low, Europeans are saying that we still have more national pride than they do—and that that’s a good thing.

“We owe America a huge apology because America is nothing like what the media tells us,” said British traveler Oliver Henry.

These World Cup tourists have proved something else: It’s possible to honor your cultural heritage while also embracing America and jumping into the melting pot.

Take the Scottish football fans known as the Tartan Army. They marched to the tune of their bagpipes in Florida, but they also sang “Sweet Caroline” in Fenway Park. Meanwhile, the Norwegians have taken their “Viking row” to stadiums, escalators, and New York City’s Times Square.

Loving America doesn’t mean you’ve been colonized or that you hate other cultures. It means you respect what’s possible here, from technological innovations to the right to bear arms.

And World Cup tourists have shown that you can celebrate America not only with house-sized flags, but also with the food you eat and the songs you sing. That’s why we have barbecues and listen to Toby Keith on Independence Day.

Americans have forgotten how to be patriotic. Maybe we should look at what our World Cup visitors are appreciating about America. They seem to know how to take pride in our country better than we do.